Legal Partner, R&D Transactions
At Astellas, we strive to become a cutting-edge, value-driven life science innovator. This means working at the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into VALUE for patients.
What sets us apart is our focus on patients, our pioneering innovation, our collaborative culture, and the passion of our talented people.
Making a positive impact on patients’ lives is the purpose behind everything we do. At Astellas, we are relentless in our pursuit of scientific progress and in tackling unmet medical needs, demonstrated by our legacy in oncology, overactive bladder and transplant and our impressive pipeline in women's health, blindness and regeneration, genetic regulation, immuno-oncology, mitochondria and targeted protein degradation.
About Us
We are a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, with a team of more than 14,000 managing operations in approximately 70 countries around the world. We are in the Top 30 global biopharma company based on global revenues and are predicted to be one of the Top 10 Cancer Drug Makers of 2024 by Fierce Pharma.
In Canada, we are growing to meet the exciting opportunities realized by our legacy brands and rich pipeline of innovative treatments.
We are looking for candidates who will thrive in our entrepreneurial and empowering environment where talent and leadership flourish. Do your values align with our Astellas Way - patient focus, ownership, results, openness, and integrity? Then we would love to hear from you.
From the first day in role, everyone at Astellas has a responsibility for creating a brighter future for patients around the world. We nurture exceptional relationships with our employees to allow them to thrive, foster innovation, and deliver exceptional business results. We work to create a culture where our people feel empowered to pursue brave ideas and ambitious outcomes, to have the confidence to be accountable for a higher standard of performance and embody a competitive and solution-oriented mindset.
Our expertise, science and technology make us a pharma company. Our open and diverse culture is what makes us uniquely Astellas.
Astellas Pharma Canada (APCA) is looking to fill vacant position - Legal Partner, R&D Transactions.
Purpose:
The Legal Partner, R&D Transactions is responsible for providing legal support and legal services in relation to certain R&D legal transactions of the Research, Technology and Manufacturing (T&M), Development, Medical Affairs, and Rx+ functions. The position holder also provides legal support and advice for other functions where required.
Essential Job Responsibilities:
- Providing practical, timely, proactive, strategic, high quality legal services for the Research, T&M, Development, Medical Affairs, and Rx+ functions on R&D transactional matters taking into account the global objectives of the organization and the unique and varying global, local and regional legal and regulatory requirements in a risk-balanced manner in order to effectively minimize and mitigate risk
- Providing legal and strategic support for a broad range of R&D transactions for Research and managing the strategic drafting, negotiating, and consummating a broad range of complex agreements in support of Research, including research collaborations and alliances, consortiums, sponsored research, material transfers, research licenses, HTS library exchange, consulting services, research services, CRO services, advisory boards and councils, data sharing and data licensing, investigator-initiated studies, regulatory and quality agreements
- Providing legal and strategic support for a broad range of R&D transactions for T&M, including supply agreements, manufacturing contracts, collaborations, service agreements, and other contracts. This may include but is not limited to support to business clients on (i) contract drafting and negotiations with potential business partners and collaborators and (ii) strategic projects and key initiatives of the T&M function
- Providing legal and strategic support for a broad range of R&D transactions for Development and managing the strategic drafting, negotiating, and consummating of a broad range of complex agreements in support of Development, including agreements for clinical trials, assay development, companion diagnostics, expanded access, compassionate use, patient recruitment, informed consents, non-interventional studies, sponsorships and grants, advisory boards, data sharing and data licensing, investigator-initiated trials, and regulatory, quality, and pharmacovigilance agreements
- Providing legal and strategic support for a broad range of transactions for Medical Affairs and managing the strategic drafting, negotiating, and consummating of a broad range of complex agreements in support of Medical Affairs, including investigator-sponsored research agreements and escalations related thereto, Astellas-sponsored medical affairs study agreements, collaborative research, and CRADAs
- Providing legal and strategic support for a broad range of transactions for Rx+ and managing the strategic drafting, negotiating, and consummating of a broad range of complex agreements in support of Rx+ and medical devices, including consulting agreements, confidentiality agreements, service agreements, master services agreements, development agreements, and clinical trial agreements
- Providing updates to management and business clients on changes in legal developments affecting the pharmaceutical industry, especially in the research and development fields, and the innovative new technologies and coordinating with other leaders in the Legal Functional Unit, as may be appropriate
- Identifying, participating in, and contributing to contract enhancement initiatives for business clients, including by suggesting, preparing, and reviewing new templates of contracts, check lists, guidance, etc.
- Aligning, coordinating, and working closely with the members of the Legal Transactions Tower and other members of the Legal Functional Unit and the GC & CECO Division
- Retaining, supervising, and directing outside counsel effectively, and efficiently managing legal expenses consistent with approved global budget, coordinating closely with the Legal Team Lead, R&D Transactions
- Other projects as may be requested by the Legal Team Lead, R&D Transactions
- Overnight travel, including international travel, as needed
Preferred Qualifications
Qualifications Required:
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Laws (LL.M.) or equivalent
- At least 5-7 years of experience working in a law firm or pharmaceutical legal department
Qualifications Preferred:
- Prior legal experience handling diverse and complex transactions for a company in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and/or biotechnology industry
- Science degree or background/experience in chemistry/biology is an advantage
- Understanding of the legal issues relating to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and/or medical device businesses or affecting the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry. This may include understanding of patent, trademark or copyright licensing, joint research and development, regulatory processes for medical devices, over the counter drugs or prescription drugs, anti-kickback, fraud and abuse, and anti-bribery and anti-corruption
- Bar membership in state/jurisdiction of practice
Working Environment
At Astellas we recognize the importance of work/life balance, and we are proud to offer a hybrid working solution allowing time to connect with colleagues at the office with the flexibility to also work from home. We believe this will optimize the most productive work environment for all employees to succeed and deliver. Hybrid work from certain locations may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines.
Salary Range: $144,000-$194,000 CAD annually per year (final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to proficiency levels and organizational equity considerations)
*The salary range provided applies to Canada only and does not apply to any other locations outside of Canada.
Benefits:
- Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation, Sick time and national holidays
- Registered Retirement Savings Plan Program (RRSP)
- Company paid life insurance
- Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions
- Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions
- Wellness programs
Astellas may use artificial intelligence-enabled tools at various stages of the recruitment and selection process.
Additional Information
Astellas Pharma Canada welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the hiring process.
No telephone inquiries, in-person applications, or agencies please. While we appreciate all applications, only candidates under consideration will be contacted.
#LI-CH1
